Veterinary Field Units Privatization Scheme

The Animal Health Programme (AHP) is a four-year programme implemented in Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan and Dai Kundi provinces. The southern region of Afghanistan has been marginalised from development programmes and has been devastated by the ongoing war and consecutive years of drought. The overall objective of the AHP is to improve the availability and access to appropriate food for rural populations by enhancing livestock production in Afghanistan. This was achieved by a) providing veterinary field units with the appropriate technical skills to properly diagnose and treat livestock and b) Reduce Veterinary Field Unit (VFU) dependence on Mercy Corps support by providing VFUs with business skills to manage day-to-day operations.

This report captures the main activities and lessons learned by Mercy Corps implementing a veterinary programme in southern Afghanistan from 2004 – 2008. It is information relevant for programme planning in Afghanistan and beyond.